Enoch Lim
Rafizi Ramli has been making headlines lately.
He has said he intends to defend his Pandan parliamentary seat in the coming general election but not as a PKR candidate.
PKR has since issued him two show-cause letters, saying such statements tarnished the party’s image.
Many are split. Some dismiss his announcement as a publicity stunt, calling him all talk, a loose cannon or a provocateur with a below-par track record.
Others are vocally supportive, believing it signals that he may start a party of his own or contest as an independent.
Given his talent, intellect and charisma, either route is possible. For nearly three decades, he has built a strong presence and a large following within PKR and across the Pakatan Harapan coalition.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
However you view his falling out with PKR, it is clear it stems from disillusionment with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership and the state of the nation today.
He may have already given up on ever having a role in PKR again. If the answers he seeks on how to improve Malaysia do not lie in PKR or the current “unity government”, then they must lie in an alternative.
Rafizi’s record
To be fair, Rafizi has flaws and is far from perfect. His past economic policies have not always gone down well with the public and have warranted fair criticism.
Past controversies have dented his image somewhat. Not everyone approved of the 2014 “Kajang Move” that he masterminded. Many, including me, were also heavily critical of his push for the central database hub, Padu, which they felt was unnecessary for the average person in Malaysia.
But there is no denying his ability to navigate the political landscape across the past few election cycles. His insights were a key asset to the PH coalition and contributed to its electoral victories.
To me, Rafizi appears to be a political moderate who values grassroots initiatives and community upliftment. He seems to be staunchly against corruption and advocates for transparency and accountability – as seen in his founding of the National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre and Invoke.
Hopefully, this analysis will spark more debate about the direction of Malaysian politics over the next 10 to 20 years. Coalitions rise and fall, and parties come and go. This is where Rafizi comes in.
The politically homeless
If he does go independent, will he gain more or less support? What would he do to distinguish himself as an MP?
And if he were ever to start a new party, coalition-building would be his first priority if he wants the numbers. How many of Malaysia’s 222 MPs – and the rest of the nation – could he convince and bring onside? How many of those who no longer want to support either PH–Barisan Nasional or Perikatan Nasional could he win over?
Many people I know no longer back either bloc – and I am one of them. If I view this unity government unfavourably, I view PN the same way. Neither coalition’s core values appeal to me.
For those of us who are politically independent and politically homeless, we need a platform to unite around – one rooted in the spirit of Malaysian patriotism and solidarity.
If there is one thing politics teaches you, it is that there are no permanent allies or enemies – only permanent interests.
A system in crisis?
Malaysia has neither a strong government nor a strong opposition. Is it an exaggeration to say the system is becoming dysfunctional – or perhaps already is – and rotten to the core?
Consider Azam Baki’s alleged shareholding violations and the charges against former top officials in our armed forces. The integrity of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, the armed forces, the judiciary, Parliament, state assemblies and many other institutions is at stake, with apparently little meaningful challenge to serious corruption and misconduct, whether in broad daylight or behind closed doors.
No wonder public confidence in these institutions has eroded. It is as if the people’s capacity for outrage has been dissipated or misdirected, and we have come to accept this as “normal” – just another part of everyday Malaysian politics. The demoralisation that comes from believing nothing will ever change can be acutely risky if no concrete solutions emerge.
Is it then time for people in Malaysia to adopt fresh perspectives on how we conduct our politics? Now more than ever – especially in the shadow of the war in West Asia – the temptation of quick fixes to appease the public must be resisted in favour of long-term solutions. We need surgery, not a plaster.
This does not necessarily mean that if Rafizi starts a new party, joins an existing one or contests as an independent, things would automatically get better. There is no guarantee he would win at the next election either.
But Rafizi is a symptom of Malaysia’s deeply embedded problems – not just at party level, but nationally as well.
Could he be selfish, irrational or power-hungry, in the light of all this? Or does he envision something greater for Malaysia, only to be dragged down by the current leadership?
We do not know his motives fully. Let us judge him on what he has said and done, and the plans he sets for himself and the country.
Healthy scepticism is the best approach in these uncertain times. Only time and circumstances will tell if he will succeed in his endeavours after this parliamentary term. However difficult the road ahead, things must go on.
Love him, loathe him or remain undecided – Rafizi’s story shows that Malaysia’s political framework is changing by the minute, for better or worse.
Here in Borneo, home-grown native parties are dominating and retaining their presence while peninsula-based parties continue to diminish. We do truly live in interesting times.
As the people of Malaysia, we must not cease to pray for the nation – for peace and prosperity. In the meantime, let us continue to speak up for what is good and call out what is not. After all, we deserve the government we choose and tolerate. May God bless Malaysia.
Enoch Lim from Sabah obtained a masters in public administration from a public university in the peninsula. He had earlier graduated with a degree in politics and government studies from a university in Sarawak.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Enoch Lim writes very well indeed in terms of both language and thought. Yes, the timeless saying that in politics there is no permanence either in friedship or enmity holds true. No poltician of whatever ilk is INTEGRITY pure and simple. Politics mandates compromise, clever ( not necessarily completely honest ) negotiations. I am not cynical, but prefer a healthy scepticism that can help me see nuances. The Rakyat must therefore still be alert and paricipate in monitoring each politician of whichever coalition or new party. Our historical legacies are too embedded George Orwell describes himself as a “cynic – romantic”, a vexatious combination but this true of me too. I hope, I pray but will remain critically aware and healthily sceptical.
Had the opportunity to volunteer in Invoke (2017-2018) helmed by Rafizi. I have lots of respect for Rafizi and his Invoke team’s ability to gather data, process the data smartly, strategise and create effective results efficiently. Also respect his integrity, package solution in clear concise manner, communication skills and willingness to turun padang which current leaders lack. I hope he can once again lead this country out of the rot.